Peach Melba and Bourbon Cocktail
If you saw the Progressive Dinner Party (we’re calling it Progressive Eats) that I did with friends the other day you would have noticed that I made a Peach Melba Pavlova; a dessert that is layers of baked meringue, whipping cream and fruit; in this instance peaches and raspberries. As a follow up, I thought it might be fun to try a cocktail and this Peach Melba and Bourbon Smoothie was definitely the answer.
Peaches and raspberries are just meant to be together and I love them in so many ways. Peach ice cream with raspberries is great as it vanilla ice cream with both fruits and of course that pavlova was ‘the bomb.’ A seriously decadent dessert.
Still, after all was said and done and I had my photos I had to get help eating it or I would seriously have had it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
One of my new neighbors is not big on dessert so after dishing out slices to everyone, a bit later that night I decided to make him this Peach Melba and Bourbon Cocktail using the same elements I had put into the dessert. Oh. My.
Bourbon, peaches, brown sugar simple syrup and raspberries are the major players but a bit of some raspberry and peach liqueur did not hurt one little bit!
If you have seen my lament of the early use of the ‘P’ word (please don’t make me say it!) you will know that I am SO not over summer.
I want peaches for crying out loud; not that other round orange thing…and so peaches it is and really, in my mind, the BEST peaches ever.
Our peaches that come from the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains are so eagerly anticipated each year. Warm days and cool nights might not make for the amazing tomatoes of my youth but I’ve never EVER had such sweet, juicy peaches anywhere, ever.
I think I might be turning slightly orangish pink and my skin has a light fuzz I’ve eaten so many!
I was invited to join the Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, his staff and a roomful of food and media people from Denver for a luncheon this week; the food we had was so amazing that I was even impressed with the breadth of great products from Colorado.
I’ll cover that event soon but I do believe a cheering section formed when we saw dessert was Palisades Peaches; guess they knew better than to mess with constituents; there is simply nothing like them!
Of course as a food blogger I thought it would be nice if we could have each taken home that adorable little cast iron skillet, right?
Colorado is actually quite the agriculture state even if most people only know us for one thing. Skiing. Do yourself a favor and come here in the summer. (Do you hear me Eva and Brian?).
Warm days and cool nights in a fabulous low humidity environment, fabulous food, hiking, biking, river rafting and more are just a small part of the summer mecca that is Colorado.
If you are not into sports then come for the peaches and the corn (which benefits from those very same conditions). Heaven is a bushel of corn for dinner followed by another bushel of peaches for dessert.
It’s true, those conditions do not make for the tomatoes of my home state of Missouri but it’s a good trade. (Again Eva and Brian; bring tomatoes too, please?).
More of a smoothly actually than a cocktail; it it so much better than Kale. Promise. I was too tired that night to visit so I just called Kevin and he came down for pickup.
I do believe I heard them slurping from afar. That’s OK in summer with peaches this good. I know this for a fact.
Peach Melba and Bourbon Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 large ripe peach
- 3 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 4-6 Tbsp brown sugar syrup boil 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of brown sugar until sugar dissolves. Add 1/4 cup ice cubes and stir. Remove from pan and let sit for a bit if still warm; you will have extra which you can refrigerate
- 2 oz Grand Marnier I had their Signature bottle of peach and raspberry but use orange if not available
- 4 oz bourbon
- Sparkling soda
- Peach slices and raspberries for garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients up to sparkling soda in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour one-half of mixture into a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously, remove lid and pour into tall glass; leaving room at the top to finish with soda.
- Top with sparkling soda and stir.
- Garnish with peach slices and raspberries.
- Repeat for 2nd cocktail.
OK. I say yes, please to this! This is one of my absolute favorite desserts, and I am certain I’d adore this cocktail Cheers!
It went down very easily; almost as if it were a health smoothie. Which I’m sure it is right? 🙂
Luncheon with the Governor! How lovely for you Barb and how lovely for Kevin that you made him this dessert cocktail. Talk about spoiling your friends! He’s a lucky man 🙂
P.S. I would have had the slice of pavlova that Kevin opted out of 🙂
It was very nice Paula; a really lovely luncheon. Parking was the typical pain and why I seldom venture downtown but this was worth it. Kevin was worth it too; I really applaud parents who are teaching their kids compassion in lieu of thinking they are the only ones who matter.
Your neighbors are so spoiled by you and your food! i hope they know how good they have it. As someone who is now in the category of “former nearby neighbor”, I speak from the heart! This drink looks lovely, glad your friends enjoyed it.
I can’t believe they did not give you a cute little iron skillet as a take-away gift…or that you did not just take it away! 😉
I loved your pavlova and even though this drink does not have meringue in it, it is still gorgeous and I want it NOW!
Peaches have been so, so good! And what a great cocktail! Sounds like you are really treating those new neighbors like VIP’s! I’ll bet they all gain a few pounds with you around! I bet the luncheon was a lot of fun!
It’s always fun to drink dessert, isn’t it? And this is a perfect dessert in a glass! Good stuff! 😉 Thanks.
You could almost forget there was bourbon in it with the fantastic fruit we’re getting now. Almost. 🙂